Improved clothes-drier



" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM GALAWAY, OF SHEBOYGAN FALLS, WISCONSIN.

IIVIPROVED CLOTH ES-DRIER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 54,886, dated May 22, 1866.

To all 'whom 'it ma/y concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM GALAWAY, of Sheboygan Falls, in the county of Sheboyi; gan and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clothes- Driers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 2 is a horizontal plan and section on line w My invention relates to th at class of clothesdriers which have a series of extending and reti-acting arms attached to a head-block and runner, like an inverted umbrella-frame, having a series of cords connecting the several arms at intervals along their length; and it consists in constructing the central staff with a channel around its head, into which the headsl of the braces project when the arms are extended, so that the revolving head cannot be lifted off the staff by the wind.

It also consists in a projecting metallic bearing-plate upon which the revolving head rests, and which projects into notches cut in ,the braces, so that when the arms of the frame are closed together the head-block cannot be removed from the staff; and it `further consists in the employment of metallic collars, which prevent the Wooden head and runner from becoming split and thereby rendered useless.

That others may understand my invention, I will particularly describe it.

A is the staff which supports the apparatus. Its lower end may be secured in any convenient way, but I prefer to step it in a suitable 'socket, B, which may be permanently secured wherever it is desired the drier should,w be placed.

Near the upper end of the staff A, I make Aan annular groove or channel, C, `into which the upper ends of the 4braces D project when the frame is distended, as in Fig. l, so that they form a perfect lock to prevent the frame fromliftin g off the socket, while they in no ways impede the free revolution of the head-block and frame around the staff. At a little distance below the channel C, I place a metallic shoulder or flange, E, upon which the head-block rests and moves when revolving around the staff.

The head-block F is a perforated block of wood having slits cut in one end corresponding in number to the number of arms of the frame. Ihese slits are in the direction of the axis of the block and penetrate from the exterior to the center and extend about halfv the length of the block. The ends of the braces D are inserted respectively into these slits, and are secured there by a wire which surrounds the head-block passing through each brace in the manner well known and common, as seen in all umbrella-frames. It is not, however, necessary that this mode of attachment should be employed. Pins would fulfill the same office, and thewire is preferred simply from motives ot utility and economy.

Covering the slitted end of the head-block is the notched plate Gr, which not only rests upon the liange or shoulder E, and receives all the friction consequent upon the revolution of the head around the staff, but it prevents that end of the block from becoming split, as itis sure to do by the action of water, to which it is exposed when not removed from its socket and placed under cover.

The runner H is the counterpart ofthe headblock F, being exactly like it in structure, and in position it is simply reversed. The arms I are secured to it at their lower ends, but they do not project so far beyond the pivot-wire as do the braces D, and they do not therefore project far enough to touch the staff A at any time.

The joint between the staff A and the headblock F is covered by a small plate, J, secured by a screw to the head of the staff, so that water will not be permitted to enter this joint when the apparatus is exposed to rain.

The cords K K stretch from arm to arm at intervals, and are so arranged that when the arms are distended these cords are thereby rendered tight, so that the clothes to be dried may be hung upon them.

The runner H may be supported, when the arms are distended, by the strip L, or any other convenient contrivance for the purpose.

The notches M in the edges of the braces D embrace the edge of the iiangc E when the frame is closed or foldedso that the staff can not be then withdrawn from the head-block.

The objects of a clothes-drying rack of this kind are twofold: iirst, economy of space; second, to prevent the whipping 7 of the clothes in the Wind, as the Whole apparatus revolves freely. But as these driers arev usually constructed the head-block, being'of wood and the staff of wood, soon becomes worn and useless, because the friction is much greater than between metallic surfaces. There is frequently also a violent tendency to lift the .Whole apparatus from its staff, and this is eiectually checked by the construction of the sta-head and the arms D, while the staft1 Vis secured in the socket B by a thumb-screw or any other convenient means. l

It is often required tov dry clothes upon the roofs of buildings, and the socket B is designed to be permanently secured in such places, While the Whole apparatus may be readily re moved under cover.

Having described my in vention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The annular channelC around: the point or shank of the staf, so that when the arms D I are' wholl y or partially distended the head cannot be lifted from the staff, substantially asset forth.

2. The revolving head F, resting upon the projecting metallic shoulder E, in combination with' saidshoul'der and the notched braces D,

for the purpose specified.

3. The collars G, attached to the heads, for the purpose of preventing` the 'same from being split, substantially as described.

WM. GALAWAY.

Witnesses:

D. OSMrrH, ANDREW AWrrrrnfnnY. 

